"Suffice it to fay, that the author of Sutton-Abbey hopes the employment of her pen will, if it gives not inftruction, be at least an innocent amufement to many of her countrywomen. That the "The motive that impelled her to publish it is a just one ;one which he is perfuaded, would, if the dare avow it, raise the fmile of approbation, and blind the eye of cenfure. may deferve the critic's frown fhe is too fenfible of, to prefent her, pages without the greatest fear, and that he may efcape the eye of cenfure, is the humble and fincere wish of, Gentlemen, with the greatest refpect, yours, &c. &c." 'Tis cruel to the laft degree, to deny a lady a reasonable requeft. We for our parts willingly pay all imaginable refpect.to the fair-fex; but then, in our official capacity, as critical grey-beards, we muft not be influenced fo far by their kind fpeeches, as to permit them entirely to bias our judgment. In this cafe we are inclined to the merciful fide. However, we cannot with juftice clafs our petitioning fair-one, with thofe British ladies, who form a conftellation in the literary world. They have left her in a lower fphere, where fhe fheds only a dim and glimmering light. We advife (as friends) our author to ftudy the English Grammar with attention, in cafe fhe has any defign of appearing in print again, as the prefent novel contains feveral grammatical inacuracies. To do our author juftice, we will lay before our readers a letter. From this they will in fome meafure be capable of forming a judgment of her merit. The following letter contains a Sifter's Advice to a Brother 2 My dear Edward defires to hear from his fifter Fanny. I comply with his defire in compliment to his requeft: though had it been made to your mama, my dear, it woud have been much better fulfilled. It will, I fear, appear prefumption in me, to prefume to dictate to you while you are bleffed with her. But I hope to convey her fentiments to you. My affection fuggefts a thousand fears! You are going into a new world; you ́ rush at once from the maternal wing, amongst a fet of beings who are almoft perfect ftrangers to you. The hurried imagination of youth, fees good and bad alike-I fear for you. The firft friends of young people very often ftamp their future difpofitions: -be careful then with whom you contract an intimacy; let merit alone attach you:-your difpofition is naturally good, but you must endeavour to conquer, that warmth of temper which as yet I have obferved but to encrease; you are to confider life as a long voyage; our unruly paflions are the rocks we often fplit upon the forms fatal to our peace! Oft Oft in the paffion's wild rotation toft, Attain And what comes then is matter of the field. "The greatest knowledge is ourfelves to know.' that knowledge, conquer every unruly paffion, and make yourself the favourite of God and man. While you pay a ftrict obfervance to the laws of your heavenly Father, and give him the worship due to him, you need not fear his protection. It is a very mittaken opinion fome people have, that when they grow old, and have loft all relish for this world, it is time enought to think of their God! Had you a dependant who refused to ferve you when in his youth and strength, would you, do you think pay that attention to his attempts then you know they proceeded from an inability to ferve any other? Let me, therefore, beg of you, my dear brother, to remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.' Leave thy fatherless children to me, faith the Lord, and I will preferve them alive.' Not as to this world only, but to eternity! Fear God, and you will have nothing elfe to fear-secure you will fmile amidst the dreadful storm; your hope is in him only who is able to preferve you. I need hardly mention the attention you must pay to those who have the command of you: it is fo neceffary to gain what we all defire, the esteem of our fuperiors, that I fuppofe it natural to you. Confider your proper behaviour, in every refpect, is neceffary to the peace of a tender parent, who places all the enjoyment in the profperity of her children, and to the happiness of your fifters, who love you with tendernefs. No idle excufe will ever be allowed for your difliking a life that has ever been your own choice-Indeed, I believe and hope you will never have a wish to quit it till, by your fteady application, you have gained fufficient to remain the rest of your days in your native land. A defire of riches feems not yet to taint your dawning virtues-never let it approach your heart, my dear brother; for a thirst after them is the bane to peace and virtue-never is that thirst fatisfied; like a confuming fire it deftroys every generous noble principle, and leaves not a tract of the human heart; imbitters all oür joys, for be affured, 'Tis not vain grandeur that contentment brings, "Happiness is our conftant fearch here on earth, how few, comparatively fpeaking, attain it? The reafon is obvious: how few fearch for it aright! Some think to find it in greatness, the mere eccho of a name, fome in riches, vain purfuit!-fome in fame. "What's fame? a fancy'd life in others breath, A thing beyond us, e'en before our death! "For "For a fucccfsful fearch after happiness, give me leave to refer you to the admirable author have before mentioned, whofe lines on the fubject I will tranfcribe for you, as you may not have them at hand. "Know then this truth (enough for man to know), The only point where human blifs ftands ftill, And but more relifh'd, as the more diftrefs'd. "Adieu my beloved brother! may one profperous gale attend you through life. May every juft wish of your heart be accom. plished, and may many fucceeding years find us in the poffeffion of those bleffings we now enjoy; and if it be Heaven's will, may they increase. But let us always think, Whatever is, is right!" Should the above extract be infufficient to gratify the tafte of any of our readers, we refer fuch to the performance itself, fo that they may carve for themselves, Q Poems to her Majefty. To which is added a new Tragedy entitled the Earl of Somerfet: literally founded on Hiftory; with a prefatory Addrefs, . By Henry Lucas, A. M. Student of the Middle Temple, Author of the Tears of Alnwick, Wifit from the Shades, Printed for the Author. 4to. Is. 6d. Davis, 4 After reading the Conflict, a poem, inferted in the prefatory addrefs to the tragedy, we should confider ourselves indeed ill-natured, were we to ufe that Atrictness of criticifm which might damp a genius whofe heart and mind both feem entirely devoted to literature, notwithstanding he appears the ftudent for the bar. We therefore, to affift him in his fuit to the Mufes, fhall firft, to encourage him in his progrefs, obferve his perfections; and to remove impediments to to the ladies favour, we fhall point out fuch as may in his next plea be avoided. Melpomene is a coy dame, and requires fo many perfections in her votaries, that few---very few have been fo happy as to fucceed in their fuit. Although the is ferious herself, fhe likes fpirit in those who folicit her good graces. Although gravity pleases her, it must be attended by eafe, grace, and dignity. So that the affection of a pedant ill fuits that majestic ease which, above all, pleafes her the most. But to have done with her ladyfhip, and to attend to the offering Mr. Lucas has made her, we proceed to obferve fome particulars relative to its characters, paffion, fentiments, and language. The choice of the ftory is calculated to fhew the bad effects of inordinate love, and ill-placed ambition. Two paffions which more intereft and injure mankind than all the reft. So that he deferves every praise for its choice, efpecially as it is founded on our own hiftory. The characters are, in generally, tolerably drawn, excepting Rochefter. We think the point of his pencil was rather dull in not making his features more ftriking of the artful courtier who rifqued, and thereby loft the life of an innocent friend, for being too fincerely interested in his welfare, and alfo to gratify his luft of title and inordinate love of an ambitious wantón. He has, however, made ample amends in his character of James. In his, we perceive the ftrokes of a master. His traits are finely agreeable to thofe of hiftory. The credulous dupe of his own pride and vanity, and the would-have-been tyrant, but for the weakness of his head and pufillanimity of his heart. Obferve the following foliloquy. "What is prerogative, or right divine, Here, double traitor! Not only fcorn our honour, but affert, That ROCHESTER--the parent of his state--- Shall judge him, and condemn..." "For a fucccfsful fearch after happiness, give me leave to refe you to the admirable author have before mentioned, whofe he› on the fubject I will tranfcribe for you, as you may not! them at hand. "Know then this truth (enough for man to know), The only point where human blifs ftands ftill, Poems to her Majefty. To which is added o |